AMA Report Shows National Progress Toward Reversing Opioid Epidemic

The American Medical Association (AMA) issued a new report today documenting how physician leadership is advancing the fight against the opioid epidemic.

The report, which is being released as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force meets for the first time, found a decrease in opioid prescribing and increases in the use of state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), number of physicians trained and certified to treat patients with an opioid use disorder, and in access to naloxone.

“While this progress report shows physician leadership and action to help reverse the epidemic, such progress is tempered by the fact that every day, more than 115 people in the United States die from an opioid-related overdose,” said Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA, Chair AMA Opioid Task Force. “What is needed now is a concerted effort to greatly expand access to high quality care for pain and for substance use disorders. Unless and until we do that, this epidemic will not end.”

1 Comment

joe
on June 27, 2018 at 2:31 am

What they fail to tell you is that many physicians are no longer prescribing pain meds. The physician I had been seeing for 12 yrs. had his office raided by the sheriffs department. They sent in 2 undercover dweebs with false documentation.
One he completely refused to medicate and sent him packing to the health dept. The other was some overweight woman with large eh, ah glands? complaining of back pain. He wrote her a small amount of meds with the understanding that she get a MRI of her back. She returned the next month with no MRI and he kicked her big butt out without a prescription. Charges were dropped at the preliminary exam, lack of evidence. This little fiasco cost him $100K. He no longer prescribes pain meds, laid off 3 office staff and sent his patients scurrying to find another doctor. I was lucky, I had been seeing a pain guy for possible epidurals and now see him, oh yeah and now receiving a greatly reduced amount of medicine.
It appears as though our government could care less about chronically ill patients. Some may turn to illegal drugs, some are considering the ultimate solution. Funny thing, Illegal drugs are everywhere and very cheap.
I get so angry when I see these damn commercials for rehab. They make emphasis that if you are hooked on prescription drugs. Hell people that have severe medical necessity are having a hard time getting prescription drugs. Bet you a days wages that Senator Blowhole is invested in these scams. Nothing motivates corruption like money in a politicians pocket. Don’t mean to ramble, just makes my blood boil that these political pukes can call the shots in the exam room. It’s voting season so any politician that is trying to keep his job, now’s a good time to show your displeasure and put him or her on the bread line. I know I’m going to try.